Often called "blue bellied lizards" the Western Fence Lizard can be found scurrying about in less populated areas (e.g. South Campus). These guys are native to all of California except deserts. They like to sit on elevated objects (like fences) and sun themselves. They can vary their coloring from light brown to black according to their surroundings and have iridescent blue on their bellies and (on males) necks.
According to the California Academy of Sciences, Western Fence Lizards' blood contains a protein that kills the Lyme disease-causing bacterium. Apparently the bacteria (Borrelia) is carried in the guts of ticks and can be spread by biting all kinds of animals. But if an infected tick bites a Western Fence Lizard, the Borrelia is killed off completely, leaving the tick's future bites harmless. Pretty cool!
Like most lizards, they eat small insects. You have to be pretty damn quick if you want to catch one, but it is possible. If trying to obtain a free pet, beware. The tails DO come off. Also, its not recommended to keep wild animals as pets, as it is stressful for them to adjust their lifestyle and likely that they won't survive the transition. Most people advise to let them go where they were found rather than risking killing it by improper care.
If you so desire to capture a Western Fence lizard, there are two methods. One involves using a fishing pole, with a loop of fishing line at the end and the other involves using your hands. With the fishing line method, you can construct the fishing line two ways, either to have a length of line extending from the tip, ending in a slipknot, or to have the end of the pole be a loop. The first method is highly recommended, as beginners tend to decapitate the poor lizards by pulling the line in the latter too hard. Now that you have a lizard catching pole, the goal is to first spot a lizard. They are most easily found sunning themselves on top of rocks in the morning, but in some places, like near Cache Creek, can be found easily throughout the day in sunny weather. You want to approach the lizard carefully, preferably slowly, and from behind. Then slowly loop the loop behind it's head, and simply lift, with the slipknot, or pull the loop close. Then put the lizard in a critter cage, or other ventilated container. Using your hands to catch a lizard requires a special set of circumstances. If you see a lizard on a tree, facing you, get close enough to wrap your arm around the tree, and stare intensely at the lizard. It'll pay attention to your head. Then quickly, and gently slap your arm around the tree and grab the lizard, gently, then place it into the critter cage. This is the method used in the biology of parasitism class to capture fence lizards for measuring of malaria in their blood.
Captain Tuttle is a Western Fence Lizard one of the few who happened to cope with the transition quite well, he even has his own DWiki page!
This little fellow was hanging on my screen door today. He is young, about half full-grown and quite docile. He has already lost a piece of his tail, probably to a neighborhood cat.—GrumpyoldGeek
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2005-08-05 03:15:02 Allison, you rock my socks! And now the Western Fence Lizard rocks my socks too...and its all YOUR FAULT!! I miss you, and congrats on ur first page!! —AndreHarris
2005-09-05 08:13:36 Thanks for the info on the lyme disease and lizard blood connection. While doing a creek restoration project (Strenzel Meadow, Martinez) one of the volunteers asked while doing plantings and seeing a lizard, if it was 'good' that it was there! -Sharyn —SharynGalloway
2007-07-16 11:32:09 You can "hypnotize" a fence swift by turning it on its back and stroking its belly...but be careful not to break the tail! Do not try to hypnotize an alligator lizard, unless you want to be bitten. —K.C.STAUBACH
